Further Education & Training

Donegal Education and Training Board Donegal ETB provides a broad range of Educational Services including post primary schools and colleges, and further and adult education and training. We actively pursue the further development of educational services in the County, and have a history of responding flexibly to community needs and aspirations.

Schools & Youth Services

Donegal Education and Training Board provides full-time educational services in 15 post-primary schools in the county. Second level education aims to provide a holistic, quality learning environment which prepares individual students for higher/ further education or immediate entry into the workplace, and equips them with the some of the skills necessary to become active citizens in a democratic society.

Getting Started

Donegal ETB provides full-time educational services in 15 post-primary schools in the county. Second level education aims to provide a holistic, quality learning environment which prepares individual students for higher/ further education or immediate entry into the workplace, and equips them with the some of the skills necessary to become active citizens in a democratic society.

Located on our 87 acre rambling estate, on the shore of beautiful Lough Gartan in the heart of Donegal, Gartan OEC provides a broad range of adventure and environmental education courses, designed for all age groups and levels of ability.

The Donegal Music Education Partnership (DMEP) aims to provide instrumental/vocal tuition in all genres of music (Classical, Traditional, Rock/Pop and Jazz), at reasonable rates, to children and young adults. In addition the service may provide instrument rental from its instrument bank to some students availing of tuition.

The Youth Work Act, 2001, defines Youth Work as a planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young persons through their voluntary involvement and which is: a) complementary to their formal education and training; and, b) provided primarily by voluntary youth work organisations.

Youthreach is the Department of Education and Skill’s official education, training and work experience programme for young people who have left school early. Its aim is to develop the core skills needed for further learning and to prepare young people to progress to further education/training or to employment.

It was a huge decision by me to return to full time education in 1997 to sit my Leaving Certificate with Donegal ETB in Letterkenny under the VTOS Programme. The course gave me great confidence and I was so grateful to get a second chance in education. The staff and all the team in the ETB were very supportive and gave me great encouragement. My results in Letterkenny enabled me to progress to Tralee IT , University of Ulster, Jordanstown and also John Moore’s University in Liverpool and eventually pursue a career in professional sport.

Jim McGuinness Glasgow Celtic Football Club

I started the VTOS Information Processing Course in September 2011. As a mature student I was nervous to begin but I settled in very quickly as there was a good mix of mature students and younger students. Within the Centre there is a crèche (VTOT’s Pre-School) which was really important for me as I had a 1 year old daughter. In my 2 years at the centre there was never no problem with the care that my daughter received and she developed really quickly. I am in my second year and I have passed all my exams so far. The course that I have done previous to coming to LYIT really helped me and I feel that I would never have being able to do it before completing the course in the ETB.

Kieran MurrayStudent at LYIT

I was an early school leaver and would do any job but was never satisfied. I had five young children at the time and decided to do my Leaving Certificate. Donegal ETB and the crèche facility onsite allowed me the opportunity to return to education. I continued after my Leaving Certificate to go to LYIT and completed an honours degree in computer science. Currently I am employed as a full-time teacher of Mathematics and IT in Errigal College Letterkenny

Janet McGeeverErrigal College, Letterkenny

The Leaving Cert course is perfect for anyone who finds themselves in the same situation that I was in-out of work and middle aged. The staff will help build up that confidence needed after being away from education for many years and will give you the knowledge you require to walk away with a Leaving Certificate and hopefully a chance to go on to further Education. I am currently working in the Credit Union in Carrigart.

Hugh BlaneyCarrigart

Looking back now I can remember all the jobs where I had to drag myself out of the bed in order to go to work. Whereas now I jump out of the bed looking forward to the day ahead and work that gives me meaning and satisfaction.

Nigel Harkin Letterkenny

We both left school at an early age, with no qualifications We heard about a course the Donegal ETB were offering, which was full time, tailored for adults, particularly early school leavers, offering them a chance to study for their leaving certificate and so we secured our places on the course.The relaxed, informal environment along with amazing teaching staff made learning fun again. And after completing our leaving certificate, we continued our studies at LYIT and both obtained degrees.We both found employment afterwards, I was employed for a time as a lab technician and Noel is currently employed as a General Nurse in Letterkenny General Hospital.

Noel and Michelle CullenBuncrana

The drive I possess, to continuously move forward and develop in a professional manner, stems from my early experience as an apprentice. Apprenticeships offer alternative educational paths where individuals can gain lifelong skills in any sector and gain rewarding employment with the prospects of promotion and advancement.

Paul FerryTraining Centre in Gweedore

I completed the VTOS Information Processing course to refresh my old skills and learn new ones with an aim to gaining employment afterwards. In particular I enjoyed the web authoring and desktop publishing modules as these were entirely new to me. Our tutor was superb and always available to help with any problems no matter how big or small. This course helped me to gain a lot of confidence in myself and I made some lifelong friendships along the way. I had not thought about third level education when I started this course, but I am now in my second year at LYIT where I am completing my degree in Computer Security & Digital Forensics. I hope to progress in my studies and obtain my honours degree before seeking employment in the computer security sector.

Lynnette McGee Student at LYIT

The training facilities are brilliant. The town is lovely and has everything. The cheap lunch is class. Everybody is really friendly.